Survey of Principal Models of the Transition from School to College in West European Countries and in USA

The principal models of transition from school to university are considered in the context of requirements set before students by universities. Four educational systems: the American, the British, the Scandinavian and the Continental European diff er in their centralization, selectiveness, and accessibility. A centralized educational system presupposes uniform national education standards established by the state, while under a decentralized system universities have the right to independently formulate their policies concerning student admission and entrance examinations. The selectivity of higher education is refl ected in the entrance examinations and criteria that determine eligibility to obtain higher education. The accessibility of higher education depends on its price and, correspondingly, on the ability of the students to bear the expenses of tuition.